Manifolding platen for typewriters



May 18 1926.

H. MCL. ARMISTEAD MANIFOLDING PLATEN FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed May 26l 1925 JEFE? BY )'M ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

HUBERT MCL. ARMISTEAD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO MANIFOLD IMPRESSIONS CORPORATION, OF CARSON CITY, NEVADA,v A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

MANIFOLDING PLATEN FOR TYPEWRITERS.

Application filed May 26, 1925. Serial No. 32,903.

My invention relates to ,manifolding devices for typewriters, and particularlyto a platen having intimately incorporated with it such inanitolding members as will enable a machine supplied originally, or subsequently fitted with said platen, to produce one or more carbon copies etticiently and economically. i

In such mani-folding-platens there are associated arms which bear the manifolding ribbons, and which carry them into and out ot functional position in the line of type impact.

In typewriters in which the line of. type impact entends along the median longitudinal front of the platen, the disposition of the ribbon-bearing arms and their movenienty are such that the ribbons are carried trom an elevated position downto said typeinipact line, and up again, and in such machines economy in space is not\ important; but in smaller machines, especially those known as portable,compactness is essential,v and in certain of such machines, .the iine ot type impact is along the longitudinal median top of the platen.

Mv invention concerns -particularly these .L-niall machines, and it has in view the double object of providing means for moving the manitolding ribbons to and from the line 0f iype impact especially when said line is on top of the platen, and to so arrange the ribbon-bearing arms that when the machine is to be inclosed in vits carrying case, said arms may be moved down to a non-interfering position.

Though my improvements in their essence may be applied to various platens and withont regard to the special means bv which the arms are operated, I have designed them more particularly as taias said operating means are concerned, in connection with the type ot manifolding platens disclosed in United States Patents No. 1,467,532, September 1l, 1923, and No. 1,502,178, July 22, 1924. to which patents reference may be made.

The nature of my inventionwill now vlo .fully described by referenceV to the accompanving drawings in wh1ch 50 by a machine which calls for compactness Iand especially when such machine provides for the line of type impact to be along the top of the platen, I shall, in order to avoid possible confusion and unnecessary prolixity of description and illustration assume that 55 the platen in its structure, its mounting in the machine, and its general operative mechanism, particularly with relation t0 its line spacing control, are all of such a nature as are disclosed, for example, in the manifolding platens of the patents above referred t0. Consequently I have shown the leftl hand 'end of the platen in elevation only, this Ibeing sufficient however to indicate the presence of the arms at that end, and have confinedtlie sectional. showing to the right hand end, andthough even with such illustration certain features of the prior art *are repeated, these will give a clear understanding of the nature of my improvements without dependence upon a reference to said art.

The platen .comprises the hollow shell 1 and its peripheral cushion 2. 3 is a shaft extending through the platen axis, and

adapted to be rotated by aknob 4.

At each end of the platen is a casing 5, which is screwed to a flange 6 of a tube 7 bv which the two casings are connected.

The platen shell l'is rotatably mounted, by

means ot an internal collar 8, upon the casing lange 6, so that the platen is rotatable relatively to the end casings. The platen is adapted to be vrotated bythe shaft 3, through any suitable connecting and line spacing control mechanism located at the left hand end and which, as forming no part of my invention and not necessary to a full understanding thereof, need not be shown, though it may be stated that such mechanism in its general nature may be substantially such as is disclosed in the patents hereinabove mentioned.

Upon and independently rotatable about the shaft 3 is a sleeve 9 the ends of which project into and terminate in the casings 5. There may be only one of suoli sleeves in case the platen be intended to carry a single manifolding ribbon, but as in practise there Will be a plurality of such ribbons, I have herein indicated this by supplying for the sake of illustration a second sleeve 9', Which 1s independently rotatablyv mounted upon the first sleeve 9, with its ends projecting into the casings 5 and terminating short of the ends of the first sleeve as is shown in the sectioned right hand end of Fig. 1.

10 are standards, one at each end., Each standard at its lower end or foot is journaled upon the end of the sleeve 9 within the casing 5, and thence extends through and is adapted to play in a peripheral slot 11 in the upper part of the casing.

The slot 11 is long enough to permit the standards to move from an upright position down through an arcuate path about the platen shaft to a recumbent position as shown by the dotted lines in ..Fig..-2, the standard turning on its journaled foot, and the movement being eifected by .intentional manual effort, 'when required to place it in upright normal functional position or turn it down to a position out of the Way.

The top of each standard 10 is provided with a bearing 19., upon which are journaled for swinging movement the ribbon-carrying arms 13, two of which are here shown. These arms carry the manifolding ribbons 14 at their free extremities, and the length of the arms is such that when the standards are in upright position, said arms may be swung to carry the ribbons down to the top of the platen in the line of type impact, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 2, and swung up again as shown by the dotted lines in said figure, to a position out of immediate usebut ready to be restored to use When required.

In order to swing the arms to carry their ribbons into and out of position, there is the following mechanism.

Botatably mounted upon the platen shaft 3 is a sleeve 15, which may be turned by a knob or other device such for example as the lever Secured to the outer side of the right huid casing is a chambered member 5, and in this member the inner end of the sleeve. is housed, and said end carries the fingers 17.

,y Firmly secured upon the end of the sleeve 9 within the casing 5, is a crank arm 18 having a tail piece 1S projecting beyond the sleeve on the side opposite the arm. The extremity of the tail piece 18 carries a stud 18 which traverses the chambered member, 1playing in an arcuate slot 5 of said memr and lying in the path of movement of one of the fingers 17 in said member.

The length of the crank arm 18 is such that it moves Wholly Within the casing 5, and from its free extremity extends a link 19 which passes out through and plays in a peripheral slot 11 in the casing 5, said link being pivotally connected at its outer erfitremity Vwith one of the ribbon-carrying arms 13.

Fixed upon the end of the other sleeve 9 is a crank arm 20 with an opposing tail piece 20 having a stud 20 traversing the chambered member 5 and playing in the slot 5 therein, said stud lying in the path of the other finger 17 in said member. A link 19 extending through and playing in the slot 11 in the casing 5, pivotally connects the crank arm 20 with the other libbon-carrying arm 13. These parts are best shown in Fig. 2, some of them being omitted from Fig. 1, to avoid confusion, it being understood that they are comprised in the selective arm-operating mechanism of the prior art albove referred to.

It will also be understood, though they are not shown, that upon the other ends of the sleeves 9 and 9 lying Within the left hand casing 5 there are crank arms, which are connected with the ribbon-carrying arms at said end, by links 19 and 19. Thus the movement initiated by the operating sleeve 15 will, through the sleeves 9 and 9 effect the operation of the ribbon carrying arms at each end, in unison.

I am not herein concerned with minor dctails of the selective operation of a plurality of manifolding ribbons, since, as far as my improvements are concerned, they are sufficiently demonstrated in considering a single ribbon, and though I have in fact shown at least, in more or less skeleton form operating means adapted for the plural ribbons illustrated, I may make my description of the operation concise by not entering upon'details in terms of such plurality.

vVhen the machine to Which my improved manifolding platen is applied is relieved ol its cover or case, and is ready for use. the standards 10 are placed in upright position` as shown in Fig. 1, and by the full lines in Fig. 2, and the prime mover sleeve 15 is so turned that the links 19 and 19 are projected from the platen and hold the ribbonarms 13 with their ribbons 14 at the rearvvard angular elevation shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 2.

To use the ribbons, one or more of them` the prime mover sleeve 15 is turned, where h v the links i9 and 19' are drawn forward and down, thereby moving the arms 13 and their ribbons 14 down until the latter lie in functional type impact position on top of the platen as shown in Fig. 1 and by the full lines in Fig. 2.

When the time comes to close up the machine and cover it, the standards 10 are turned fbackwardly and downwardly thereby carrying the arms 13 and their ribbons 14 down back of the platen to the recumbent bei' to and from the platen.

2. A manifolding lplaten comprising a platen; a standard carried by and rising from each end of the platen; an arm pivotally depending from the upper end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the lower ends of the arms; and means for swinging said arms in a direction adapted to carry said manifolding member from a position above and rearward of the platen to a position in the line o-f type impact on top of the platen and back again.

3. A manifolding platen comprising a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; a standard associated with and projecting angularly from each end of the platen; an arm pivotally connected with the outer end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the free ends of the arms; an operating member independently rotatable about the platen shaft; and means actuated by the rotation of said operating member for swinging the arms to carry the manifolding member to and from the platen.

Il. A manifolding platen comprising a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; a standard associated with and rising from each end of the platen; an arm pivotally depending from the upper end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the lower ends of the arms; an operating member independently l rotatable about the' platen shaft; and means actuated by the rotation of said operating member for swinging the arms in a 'direction adapted to carry said manifolding member from a positionabove and rearward of the platen to a position in the line of type impact on top of the platen and back again.

5. A manifolding platen comprising a platen: a standard carried bv and projecting.

angular-ly from cach end of the platen, said standards being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis passing longitudinally through the platen; an arm pivotally connected with the outer end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the free ends of the arms; and means for swinging the yarms to carry the manifolding member to and from the platen.

6. A manifolding platen comprising a platen; a standard carried by and projecting angularly from each end of the platen, said standards being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis passing longitudinally through the platen; an arm pivotally depending from the upper end of each standard; va manifolding member carried by and extending between the lower ends of the arms; and means for swinging the arms in a direction adapted to carry said manifolding member from a position above and rearward of the platen to a position in the line of type impact on top of the platen and back again.

7. A manifolding platen comprising a platen; a standard carried by and projecting angularly from each end of the platen, said standards being mounted for pivotal movement about the platen axis; an arm pivotally connected with the outer end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the free ends of the arms; and means for swinging the arms to carry the manifolding member to and from the platen.

8. A manifolding platen comprising a platen; a standard carried by and rising from each end of the platen, said standards being mounted for pivotal movement about the platen axis; an arm pivotally depending from the upper end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the lower ends of the arms; and means for swinging the arms in a direction adapted to carry said manifolding member from a position above and rearward of the platen to ahposition in the line of type impact on top of the platen and back again.

9. A manifolding platen comprisingl a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; a stand ard associated with and projecting'angularly from each end of the pla-ten, said standards being mounted for arcuate angular movement about the platen shaft; an arm pivotally connected with the outer end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the free ends of the arms; and means rotatable about journaled about the platen shaft adapting them to bel turned from an upright position to a recumbent position back of the platen and up again; an arm pivotally depending from the upper end of each standard; a mani folding member carried by and extending between the lower ends of the arms; an operating `meinber independently rotatable about tlie platen shaft; and means actuated by the rotation of said operating member for swinging the arms in a direction adapted to carry said inanifolding member from a position above and rearward of lthe platen to aiposition in the line of type impact on top of the platen and back again.

11. A inanifolding platen comprising a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; standards associated with and projecting angularly from the platen en ds; a carrying arm pivotally connected with the outer end of each of said standards; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the free ends of said arms; an operating member independently rotatable about the platen shaft; crank arms independently rotatable about the platen shaft; means for rotating said crank arms by the rotation of the operating member; and links connecting said crank'arms with .the carrying arms adapted to swing said latter arms to carry the manifolding member to and from the laten, and back again.

12. A mani olding platen comprising a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; a standard associated with and rising from each end of the platen; said standards being jonrnaled about the platen shaft adapting them to be turned from an upright position to a recumbent position back of the platen and u again; a carrying arm pivotally depen ing from the upper end of each of said standards; a Inanifolding membercarried by and extending between the lower ends of said arms; an operating member independently rotatable about the platen shaft; crank arms independently rotatable about the platen shaft; means for rotating said crank arms by the rotation of the operating member; and links connecting said crank arms with the carrying arms adapted to swing said arms ina direction to carry the manifolding member from a position above and rearward of the platen to a position in the line of type impact on top of the platen, and back again.

18. A inanifolding platen comprising a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; a peripherally slotted casing independently associated with each end of the platen; a standard fitted within each casing and projecting angiilarly through a slot thereof to the exterior; an arm pivotally connected with the outer end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the free ends of said arms; an

operating member independently rotatable about the platen shaft; and means within and playing through said slotted casings, and actuated by the rotation of said operating member for swinging the arms to carry the manifolding member to and from the platen.

14. A manifolding platen comprising a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; a peripherally slotted casing independently associated with each end of the platen; a standard journaled at its foot about the platen shaft within each casing and rising through a slot thereof to the exterior, adapting it to be turned from an upright position to a recumbent position rearwardly of ldie platen and up again; a carrying arm pirotally depending from the upper end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the lower ends of said arms; an operating member independently rotatable about the platen shaft; and means within and playin" through said slotted casings, and actuated by the rotation of said operating member for swinging the arms to carry the inanifolding member to and from the top of the platen.

15. A manifolding platen comprising a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; a peripherally slotted casing independently associated with each end of the platen; a standard fitted within each casing and rising through a slot thereof to the exterior; an arm pivotally depending from the upper end of each standard; a manifolding member carried by and extending between the lower' ends of said arms; an operating member independently rotatable about the platen shaft; crank arms within each casino independently rotatable about the platen shaft; means for rotating said crank arms by the rotation of the operating member; and links connecting said crank arms with the carrying arms adapted to swing the latter in a direction adapted to carry the inanifolding member from a position above and rearward of the platen to a position in the linel of type impact on top of the platen and back again.

16. A manifolding platen comprising a platen; a shaft for rotating said platen; a peripherally slotted casing independently associated with each end of the platen; a standard joui'naled at its foot about Lne platen shaft within each casing and rising through a slot thereof to the exterior. adapting it to be turned from an upright position to a recninbent position back of the platen and np again; an arni pivotally depending from the upper end of each standard; a inanil'olding member carried by and extendingT between the lower ends of said arms; an operating nicniber independently rotatable about the platen shaft; crank arms menaces 3 within each casing independently Aotatable position above and rearward of the platen about the platen shaft; means for-rotating to a position in the line ofA type impact said crank arms by the rotation of the opon top of the platen and back again. 10 erating member; and links connecting sald Intestimony whereof I have signed my crank arms` with the carrying arms. adaptname to this specification. ed tov swing the latter in a direction adapted a @my the manifolding member'fom a HUBERT ML. ARMISTEAD. 

